Former Cal Baptist University wrestlers recently took a jab at the program cut, highlighting the impact on the youth and how they will lose mentors and a pathway to grow in the sport. The decision to discontinue the program was initially announced in January 2026.
The CBU officials recently asked the wrestlers to clear their belongings from the locker rooms, team room, and other areas, announcing the department’s closure. The wrestlers were given just one hour, and during that time, some access had already been revoked. This decision was announced even before the conclusion of the NCAA Championships.
Days after this, the former wrestlers are raising their voices against this, slamming the program cut. One of the wrestlers laid bare the decision, expressing his admiration for the school and opening up about his thoughts on elevating the youth.
“I love the school. I want the best for CBU. I want them to thrive. I don’t agree with this decision, and so our attempts have been to communicate other options. Having college wrestlers, college athletes around this community only elevates the youth, right? Them being around us, us learning the technique, showing the young kids the technique. You’re giving 10-year-olds 20-year-old lessons, right? So by the time they get to their 15,16, 20 years old, they’re already so advanced, and that’s what’s being lost here is that we have the resources here, all the things here for kids to expand wrestling throughout this community, and we’re losing it,” said former Cal Baptist wrestler.
Recently, on March 17, 2026, the Keep Cal Baptist University Wrestling initiative hosted a community gathering at Magnolia Ave for an attempt to resume the wrestling department. Along with wrestling, departments including men’s swimming and diving, and men’s golf have been discontinued.
What Did Cal Baptist University Athletics’ Micah Parker Say While Announcing the Discontinuation?
The vice president of Cal Baptist University’s athletics, Micah Parker, announced the unfortunate decision to shut down the wrestling program at CBU while revealing the reason behind it. Opening up about the changes that the shifting landscape of intercollegiate athletics has brought to institutions, she said that achieving a university’s goal of greater excellence in Division I is more important.
“We have closely monitored the shifting landscape of intercollegiate athletics that has affected institutions across the nation. While we had hoped to continue offering our full slate of athletic programs in this new environment, it has become clear that changes are required to realize the university’s goal of achieving greater competitive excellence that the new Division I era demands,” Cal Baptist University’s athletics vice president.
Highlighting the need to discontinue some athletic programs to focus on the Big West conference in July 2026, she added:
“As the university looks toward competing in the Big West Conference starting in July 2026, it was necessary to discontinue some athletic programs in order to offer remaining student-athletes and teams the best chance to succeed.”
Cal Baptist University’s wrestling program started in 2008-09, and they moved to NCAA Division II in 2013-14. After that, in 2018-19, they advanced to NCAA Division I.
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